Who Owns the Chicago Bulls in 2026?

The Chicago Bulls remain one of the most recognized franchises in basketball, a legacy built during the Michael Jordan championship era of the 1990s.

Yet the ownership story behind the team is just as compelling today as the six banners hanging inside the United Center.

In 2026, the Bulls are still controlled by real estate mogul Jerry Reinsdorf, the same owner who bought the franchise back in 1985.

Reinsdorf recently agreed to sell his majority stake in the Chicago White Sox, and that move has reignited a wave of speculation about whether the Bulls could be next.

New investors have quietly joined the ownership group, valuations have climbed into the billions, and fans are asking louder than ever who actually controls the team and what could happen next.

This guide breaks down exactly who owns the Chicago Bulls in 2026, how the ownership group is structured, what a potential sale could look like, and whether Reinsdorf has been a good steward of one of the NBA’s flagship franchises.

Category	Detail
Principal Owner	Jerry Reinsdorf
Team President	Michael Reinsdorf
Ownership Group	Reinsdorf family, Wirtz family, minority limited partners including the Walton family
Purchase Year	1985
Purchase Price	Approximately 9.2 million dollars
2025 Forbes Valuation	Approximately 6 billion dollars, ranked 6th in the NBA
Home Arena	United Center, Chicago

Who Currently Owns The Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are principally owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, a Chicago businessman who purchased the franchise in 1985 for roughly 9.2 million dollars, leading an investment group that took control shortly after the team had drafted a young guard named Michael Jordan.

Reinsdorf also owns the Chicago White Sox, though he has since agreed to hand majority control of that baseball team to billionaire Justin Ishbia.

Reinsdorf does not run the Bulls alone.

His son, Michael Reinsdorf, serves as team president and oversees daily operations, while general manager Marc Eversley handles basketball decisions on the court.

The Wirtz family, longtime Chicago sports dynasty owners of the Blackhawks, also holds a significant interest tied to their shared ownership of the United Center, the arena where both teams play.

Bulls Ownership Structure Explained

In June 2026, Lukas and Samantha Walton, heirs to the Walmart fortune, purchased a minority stake in both the Bulls and the United Center by acquiring existing shares from certain limited partners.

The move added a new billionaire name to the ownership table without shifting overall control away from the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families, according to a report from Newsweek.

Bulls Ownership Timeline

Is Jerry Reinsdorf A Good Owner

Opinions on Reinsdorf split sharply depending on which era of Bulls basketball fans remember.

During the 1990s, his willingness to spend and his hiring of general manager Jerry Krause helped build a dynasty around Michael Jordan that produced six championships.

That success cemented his reputation as a shrewd, if sometimes ruthless, sports executive.

Since Jordan retired, however, criticism of Reinsdorf has grown louder.

Many Bulls fans argue the front office has prioritized profitability over rebuilding a true championship contender, pointing to years of middling playoff results and limited investment in star talent.

His track record with the White Sox, including recent struggles on the field, has only added to the scrutiny of his ownership philosophy across both franchises.

Are The Bulls For Sale In 2026

There is no official announcement that the Chicago Bulls are for sale in 2026.

Reinsdorf has publicly maintained that the addition of the Walton family as minority partners will not change majority control of the team.

Still, the timing has raised eyebrows, since it follows his decision to relinquish majority ownership of the White Sox.

Industry analysts note that skyrocketing franchise values, highlighted by the Los Angeles Lakers selling for roughly 12.5 billion dollars, make a Bulls sale financially tempting for any ownership group.

Some estimates suggest the Bulls could fetch between 8 and 10 billion dollars if the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families ever decided to exit, according to reporting from Bleacher Nation.

How Jerry Reinsdorf Bought The Bulls

Before Reinsdorf took over, the Bulls had been controlled by Arthur Wirtz since 1972, and the franchise struggled through a rough patch in the early 1980s.

Reinsdorf, who had already turned around the Chicago White Sox after buying that team in 1981 for 19 million dollars, assembled an investor group in 1985 and purchased the Bulls for roughly 9.2 million dollars.

The timing proved historic, since the team had just drafted Michael Jordan the year before.

What The Walton Family Investment Means

Lukas Walton, grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton, and his wife Samantha became the newest names on the Bulls ownership ledger in June 2026.

Their purchase of a minority stake mirrors a broader trend of ultra wealthy families diversifying into professional sports, following the Walton Penner family’s 2022 acquisition of the Denver Broncos for 4.65 billion dollars.

While the Waltons do not hold controlling power, their entry signals continued confidence in the long term value of NBA franchises.

Chicago Bulls Valuation And Financial Performance

According to Forbes, the Chicago Bulls were valued at approximately 6 billion dollars in the most recent NBA valuations report, ranking sixth among all 30 teams.

That figure marked roughly a 20 percent increase year over year, with estimated annual revenue around 434 million dollars and operating income near 160 million dollars.

The valuation reflects both the team’s global brand recognition, largely built during the Jordan era, and the booming economics of modern professional sports franchises.

Comparing The Bulls To Other Chicago Franchises

Reinsdorf’s ownership portfolio offers an interesting contrast between his two Chicago franchises.

While the Bulls have appreciated dramatically in value and remain firmly under his control, the White Sox situation has shifted, with Reinsdorf agreeing to transition majority ownership to Justin Ishbia.

For a detailed breakdown of that separate deal, see our full report on who owns the Chicago White Sox.

League wide, ownership dynamics across major sports continue to evolve as billionaire investors seek entry points into scarce franchise assets.

Readers interested in how ownership works across other major leagues can also check our guide on who owns the NFL for a broader comparison of professional sports ownership models.

What Could Happen Next For Bulls Ownership

Jerry Reinsdorf is now in his 90s, and questions about long term succession planning are only going to intensify.

Michael Reinsdorf’s role as team president positions him as a natural candidate to eventually take on a larger ownership share, though nothing has been formally confirmed.

Given the pattern already set with the White Sox transition, many analysts expect a similar succession framework could eventually apply to the Bulls, whether that means a family transfer or an outright sale to a new majority buyer.

For now, fans can expect the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families to remain in charge, with the addition of the Waltons simply widening the circle of investors who share in the team’s growing financial success, as documented on the franchise’s Wikipedia ownership history page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the principal owner of the Chicago Bulls in 2026?

Jerry Reinsdorf remains the principal and controlling owner of the Chicago Bulls in 2026, a position he has held since purchasing the team in 1985.

Did the Bulls get sold in 2026?

No, the Bulls have not been sold.

In June 2026, the Walton family purchased only a minority stake, and the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families retain majority control of the franchise.

How much is the Chicago Bulls franchise worth?

Forbes valued the Chicago Bulls at approximately 6 billion dollars, ranking the franchise sixth among all NBA teams based on the most recent published valuations.

Who runs the day to day operations of the Bulls?

Michael Reinsdorf, son of principal owner Jerry Reinsdorf, serves as team president and oversees the daily business operations of the franchise, while general manager Marc Eversley leads basketball decisions.